Gettin' Old Ain't for Sissies

To start with, I’d like to apologize to my faithful readers, both of them, for not writing these blog entries more regularly.  I’m sorry, but I can’t help it.

First of all, there’s procrastination.  I am a life-long procrastinator.  And, if I may say so myself, I have developed procrastination into an art-form.  This talent for, let’s call it ‘active postponement,’ isn’t always in sync with various aspects of the aging process.

 The aging process is essentially a series of systems failures.  Sometimes a major system goes down all at once, and that’s that.  Most often the process is slower, as systems slow down more and more, before they stop all together.  The plumbing still works, although in an irregular and unreliable manner.  My stomach can act like a real asshole sometimes, come to think of it, so can my asshole.

One time I could walk down-town, walk around down-town, and then walk back home.  And I lived further from down-town than I do now.  Now I walk to Safeway, a ten minute stroll, and I have to stop half-way there to catch my breath.  Then I take the bus back to the Cave, and have a nap.

As things wear-out and systems run down, one has to adjust, to compensate, to do things differently, or stop doing some things altogether.  Adjusting and compensating becomes just another aspect of the aging process.

My talent for ‘active postponement’ is a gift.  Psychic, spiritual, or god-given, it makes no difference, these gifts should not be used frivolously.  I only procrastinate over things of importance.  More and more, when I’d like to actually do something, some aspect of the aging process interferes.  An uncertain stomach or itchy eyes are a distraction. And often my intentions don’t match up with my energy level.  Sometimes through, I just don’t feel like doing anything.  No particular reason, just don’t feel like it.

I’ll try to be more regular, more reliable, but no promises.